19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6: 19-21
Prayer
God, we thank You for Your correction, Your vision, and Your perfect plan. You have set all of this in motion, yet we often get caught up in it all and take our eyes off of You. We are sorry. Please help us fix our eyes on You, Jesus. Allow us to get back in tune with where You want us to go, what You want us to do, and who You want us to be with. Help us to turn over our idols today that have regrettably taken Your place in our lives. Give us strength and courage to let go. We know You are all that we need; help us to follow today, Lord.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
After asking ourselves about our desires, now we take a look at what we actually need in our lives. Our Bible verses above are great to reflect on what we have stored up on earth compared to what we have stored up in heaven. Our things on earth must be held with open hands, ready to be used for God's kingdom or given away if asked. We are to be thankful to have nice things when we do, yet also know that these are all temporary and stay on earth for the length of time they last. Everything on earth wears out and becomes old. A brand new car loses 10% of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot! What is more important are the things that can be stored up in heaven that never go away.
If we are seriously ready to turn back to God, Samuel tells the Israelites below that we must start by throwing away all our false idols. What do we put way before God in our lives? What do we want the most right now? Those are our idols that keep us from Him. Ask God to show you what these things are in your life today if you don't already know, and let’s prepare within ourselves a holy place for God to live.
3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
1 Samuel 7:1-4
